The 21-year-old used a photograph of Dexter Morgan as his own Facebook profile picture [RAYMONDS]

Leicester Crown Court was told Howe was "a recluse" obsessed with US TV series 'Dexter', which features a fictional police worker, Dexter Morgan, leading a double life as a serial knife-wielding killer.

He used a photograph of Dexter Morgan with a blood-splattered face as his own Facebook profile picture - and had chillingly searched 'Dexter's kill knife' on the internet in the run-up to the death.

Judge Mr Justice Haddon-Cave sentenced Howe to life in prison, and told him he would have to serve at least 21 years and six months before he could be considered for release.

He added: "You attacked your mother with appalling savagery, causing more than 53 separate wounds. One can only imagine the horror of her realisation at what was being done to her by her own son."

Howe lived with his step-father, Kris Wardle, 51, an HGV driver, and his mum, known as Tina, who worked as a cleaner.

Nirmal Shant QC, prosecuting, said the couple noticed he became increasingly withdrawn, spending most of his time in his bedroom and rarely speaking.

Katrina Wardle, who was known as Tina [RAYMONDS]

She said: "He'd used knives to cut holes in his bedroom walls and made stab marks in the door and his punch bag was stabbed repeatedly."

The court heard that on the day before the murder, Mr Wardle set off for work, expecting to be away overnight.

Howe went to work at a care home before returning home at 3.30pm and going to his room.

Mrs Wardle left for her cleaning job at 7.20pm, returning home an hour later.

At about 2.30am the next day - Tuesday, July 16 - a next door neighbour heard a woman either screaming or crying.